Catherine Garanewako

Background

Catherine Mutandadzi (born 03 March 1957) is a Zimbabwean Liberation Hero and Humanitarian. Catherine Mutandadzi died at the age of 46 on January 25,2004. She becomes the 12th hero to be buried at the Mashonaland Central Provincial Heroes Acre in Bindura.

Liberation War

In 1973 Catherine left secondary school to cross into Mozambique and join the Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army (ZANLA), adopting the moniker Garanewako Muhondo ("Defend your turf"). She was recruited in Zanu’s military wing Zanla among the first and only group of 72 Zanla women combatants who received formal military training at Nachingwea Camp in Tanzania. With the ceasefire, Catherine was assimilated into the Army as a commissioned officer holding the rank of Lieutenant, she rose through the ranks to become a Captain. Since 1980 she worked for the ruling ZANU-PF party in a variety of roles in Mugabe's Prime Ministerial office, Catherine studied and became a head Accountant for ZAPAR (Zimbabwe Army Pay and Records) at her time of death in 2004 she was a member of the Electoral Committee. She was survived by three children Angel Chandihwa Mutandadzi, Masimba Tendai Samanga and Benjamin Nyasha Rice Mutandadzi